Edward a



(No Model.)

E. A. DUBEY.

LETTER BOX. No. 378,955.

Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. DUBEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JAMES LANGAN, OFv SAME PLACE.

'LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,955, dated March 6,1888i.

Application iled September 20, 1887. Serial No. 250.194. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern;-

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. DUBEY, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county,New York, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Box, of whichthe'following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved mail-box in whichletters, newspapers, and packages can be deposited through acomparatively large opening without fear of their being stolen.

The invention consists in the combination, with a box adapted to holdmail matter and having an opening of sufficient size to admit letters,packages, Sto., of a winged roller or. turnstile carried within the boxbelow said opening. Preferably just room enough is left between thewings of the turnstile and the sides of the box to permit said turnstileto revolve. This turnstile prevents a person putting his hand into thebox to remove the matter within the same. A suitable cover is placedover the opening in the box to exclude rain, dust, 85e. The box is alsoprovided with a door to permit removal of the mail matter. A bag ofsuitable construction may be placed within said box to receive the mailmatter deposited, if desired.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a front elevation of a mail-box constructed according to myinvention, the door being shown thrown open, revealing a bag containingthe mail matter in position within the box; and Fig. 2 is a verticalcross-section on the line c c, Fig. 1.

A represents a box of suitable construction provided with a door, a,preferably near the bottom. The door a may be fastened shut by apadlock, b, and hasp, or by any other suitable means.

At the'upper part of the box A is an open ing of sufficient size toadmit newspapers and packages. This opening is closed by a cover, d,(shown in the form of a cylinderroll top,) which is pivoted in the box Aat e e; but other forms of the cover d may be used, if desired. By usingthe form of cover shown the 0penings may always be kept closed, theweight of the cover tending to keep it down.

D is a winged roller or turnstile hung horizontally at f j' within thebox A and below the cover d. The turnstile D is arranged horizontaily,as shown, so as to act as a partition between the cover d and the bottomof the box A. The edges of the wings g of the turnstile D are preferablyarranged so as to pass close to the sides of the box A, as shown. Forgreater security, two turnstiles may be used in the same box, one belowthe other. In order to prevent each turnstile from being turned back inan effort by thieves to steal mail matter, I secure a spring, B, againstthe inner wall of the box at or near the back, as shown. This springwill allow the stile to be turned in one direction, but preventsrotation in the other; but other means for preventing the reversemovement of this horizontal turnstilesuch as apawl andratchet-wheel--may be used.

Letters, newspapers, and packages may freely pass the turnstile D; butsaid turnstile prevents a person putting his hand far enough down in thebox to remove any matter from within the same.

Eis a bag to receive the mail matter. It is preferably suspended, withits mouth open, within the box A by means of loops h, carried by it,passing over hooks z', carried by the box. The bagE is thus heldopposite the door a with its mouth wide open. The bag E may be of anydesired construction-'such asa sell'- closing bag, to close when removedfrom the hooks-and made of any suitable material.

In use the coverd is first moved back and a newspaper' or other articlepassed in through the upper opening. It falls upon the turnstile D,which immediately revolves and lets the paper fall to the bottom of thebox A, or into the bag E, if this is used. IVhen the handis withdrawnfrom the opening, the cover d immediately falls shut by its own weight.Vhen the mail matter is to be removed, the collector opens the door aand removes the bag E, with its contents, and replaces it by an emptyone; or when the bag is not used he removes the matter i'n the usualway.

Although I have shown the opening for inserting the papers at the top ofthe box, it is evident that it may be in the side and provided with asuitable cover, preferably a self; closing one.

With this box it will be seen that a large opening can be used to admitthe matter, and carried Within said box, spring B, andthe bag withoutfear of a person robbing the mails by putting his hand through saidopening.

These boxes may be placed upon streetcor- 5 ners, in stores and hotels,and in any convenient locality.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is The box A, having' auupper opening to ad- Io mit mail matter and the sclf-closing oscillating cover d, combined with the turnstile D,

E and hooks i i, for holding said bag with its month wide open withinsaid box and below said turnstile, as and for the purposes specied.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 15th day ofSeptember, 1887.

p EDWARD A. DUBEY. Witnesses:

JAMES LANGAN, ARTHUR v. BRIESEN.

